E36 M3 - What's it worth?

turbo6bar · 10-09-2014, 08:01 AM

I am preparing to sell my 96 M3 coupe, and I am trying to get a starting point for price. The car is virtually all original. Cooling system was replaced around 2005-6, which was shortly before I bought the car. It has 109000 miles. Color is alpine white. Some of the rubber window trim is cracked and can use replacement in the future. Also, the suspension really should be rebuilt. The next owner really should go through the car from top to bottom, as I rarely drove the vehicle, and it only received oil changes and a trickle charger on the battery. In the seven years of ownership, I put less than 15000 miles on it. It just didn't fit in with my landlord day job, and for fun, I preferred the motorcycle or bicycle.

NADA suggest trade-in is $5700 and clean retail is $8200

Is clean retail the value on a dealer's lot?

KBB is suggesting private party $6700.

Normally, Ebay would be a good source, but damn, pricing is all over the map. Junkers are low. Super clean, low mileage examples are well over $10k, but there are few that sell in the middle range.

Anyone have their fingers in the market? Is $6000 a reasonable asking price? Is my car a commodity car or does it have any cache over the standard 3-series?

Jurgen

RedBaron · 10-09-2014, 08:05 AM

$6,000 is a really good deal. I would buy the car in a heartbeat if I had a little bit more cashflow right now. Are you planning on selling it right away?

turbo6bar · 10-09-2014, 08:10 AM

I am going to give it a really good detail job, take great pictures, and put it up for sale. I would like to see it go to a new home before winter sets. That's my plan, but I have been "planning" to sell for the past year or two. :-)

cashflyer · 10-09-2014, 08:17 AM

Post pics here also so we can see it.

HPIbaja4me · 10-09-2014, 08:22 AM

Send me the pics. Cash on hand ready to buy.

GG Allin · GG Allin's Garage

No rust? And I mean NO RUST. If so, $9000 is not too far fetched. That's only 6000 miles a year.

I paid $5800 for a 95 a few years ago with 187K miles. I paid the premium because it has no rust.

Once these things start to rust, there is no stopping them, they go fast.

livi · 10-09-2014, 08:54 AM

In Sweden they go for up to $15-20k. You guys are lucky with your car prices.

wildthing · 10-09-2014, 11:19 AM

I go with what's on Craigslist in the area.

Too bad... I want a 4-door sedan. And those go for as low as 5K all the way to 14K.

Joe Ricard · Joe Ricard's Garage

I have a 95 M3 with 5K in suspension work, another 5K in go fast goodies Chip, CAI, Headers, exhaust, 17 x 9 rims 255 wide tires, New Radiator, water pump, intake, belts, hoses, and can't give it away for 9500.

Kraftwerk · 10-10-2014, 03:41 PM

1996 E36 M3, second owner, love it. Estoril Blue. Its getting on in years 125,000 miles. I wont sell it since I paid way too much for it! Have had it for ten / 11 years. Are you the second owner or the sixth? When you buy a used M3 that kind of thing matters a lot. 5-6 thou is a bargain for a well kept version, prices vary by region. These cars were over $ 40,000 in 1996...

biosurfer1 · 10-10-2014, 04:37 PM

Estoril Blue, nice...one of the best colors of any car ever IMO

kanadary · 10-10-2014, 07:04 PM

The e30s are pricy. Not sure why

onewhippedpuppy · 10-10-2014, 07:32 PM

$6000-$7000 is my opinion if super clean. They are pretty common cars, and it sounds like yours needs $2k+ in work to be a good solid driver.

Kraftwerk · 10-10-2014, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanadary

The e30s are pricy. Not sure why

Because so few were made , so few were imported & they perform amazingly well.

HardDrive · 10-10-2014, 09:37 PM

Photos please.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

I sold my 98 e36 M3 last year for $11,500. 78K miles, coupe, with every option. Sold it in 2 days.

Kraftwerk · 10-11-2014, 07:21 PM

That's good to know. People are always asking if mine is for sale... I think they hold their value if they are well cared for.

MongooseGA · 10-12-2014, 12:05 AM

Their values are on the upswing. Not quite as much increase as the E30s have seen, but they're getting there. Nice ones are hard to find as many younger guys were buying them up and stancing them out or making track rats out of them. Not many well cared for examples around anymore, and they're still desirable.

turbo6bar · 10-12-2014, 12:05 PM

I finally got some pictures. The car has not been cleaned or detailed. I've owned the car for 7.5 years. The previous owner owned it for a short time. His dad was the first owner, as far as I know.

I have seen zero evidence of rust in the car. I will poke around on Google to see where common rust spots may be. The car was in FL with the first owner, then, Nashville and now, in Memphis. Car has been garaged for the entire time I owned the car.

The hood does not line up with the fender properly. It needs to be adjusted. The hood has a BMW stick with VIN number matching the car VIN, so it has not been replaced.

Like I said before, the car is in good to very good condition, but does need to be refreshed.
Stereo operates wonky. Speakers sound like they're gone.
Rubber trim is definitely worn. The rubber on BMWs seems subpar. Mercedes cars I have owned have been far superior in this regard.
The clutch actuation point seems low.

I hate to point at all the flaws, but I'd rather under-promise.

Link to album of pictures

So, now that pictures are here, where should I start the price?

Jurgen

10-12-2014, 12:53 PM

Sold my 97 sedan with 60k miles, auto, all original techno puraple paint on black leather for 10K 1.5 years ago. Never liked that car.